Getting ready for Santa to come!!!

Cookies and milk all ready for Santa.

Ready for bed and ready for Santa to come.

Lauren got ready for bed at Aunt Janine's house. When we got home she quickly put out the cookies and milk and was in bed ready for Santa to come. She kept telling me to go to bed so that Santa could come. I hope she has a great Christmas tomorrow.

Christmas Eve

Lauren enjoying the evening. (A little sauce on her face from dinner.)

Blaire and Elaine in the outfits that Lauren got them. They are such great role models for Lauren. She loves them both so much.

Lauren and Sammie. These two as so cute to watch together.

The reason I love Christmas so much, my daughter, Lauren.

Lauren getting one of her presents.

The reason Christmas is so much fun. To see the excitement in their faces and the fun they have with each other makes the holidays so wonderful.

Lauren and Blaire.

Lauren and Elaine.

Lauren

Christmas Eve is spent at my sister, Janine's home. We usually go to Christmas Eve service and then come to her home for the evening. We have a wonderful dinner with too much food and then we have the silly gift exchange. We each bring a silly Christmas gift and we do a fun game. This year we had toilet paper decorated as a snowman and a Santa toilet cover among other items. It is a fun way to start the evening.

We then unwrap gifts from Janine's family and from Lauren and I. The Santa gifts and the rest of the family gifts are given the on Christmas day.

Lauren got some great gifts. She got me some wonderful items including a snugglie. Of course she wanted to use it as they drink hot cocoa outside by the fire.

Cookies for Santa

Enjoying one of the treats.

Clowning around. She was so excited that it was Christmas Eve. She was crazy all day long.

All set up and ready for Santa.

Since I knew we would be home late on Christmas Eve, I thought it would be best to get Santa's cookies and milk ready to go. Lauren made made up the plate of cookies and a few oranges. She also decided he should have chocolate milk instead of just plain white milk. She wrote Santa a letter telling him that she has been good all year. (That might be stretching it a bit!)

GRAND CHAMPIONS!!!

The Results!! Grand Champions!!!

The girls hanging out waiting for the judging.

The finished product.

Lauren is happy with our finished product.

Relaxing during the competition.

Taking a little taste.

Ready to go!!

Tonight was the annual cookie bake off. Lauren and I made Fudge Puddles. I am very happy to report we were named GRAND CHAMPIONS!!! Now we have to come up with a recipe for next year so that we can repeat.

Lauren was so happy we won. She carried the prize around all night. It is now sitting on her dresser. To be honest I think ours from last year was better and came in second place in a lesser category. It was a fun evening with friends and family and we will be ready to repeat next year.

Lauren and Sammie

Lauren and Sammie

Lauren

Sammie

Lauren and Sammie (at church)

Lauren and Sammie (at Church)

Lauren and Sammie ready for bed.



The the evening of family fun, Lauren invited Sammie to spend the night. The girls had fun talking and reading and did not get to sleep until after 11. They were both a bit tired for church the next morning. I am so glad Lauren has a cousin that she can do these things with.

Family Fun Time

Lauren with glitter and frosting and etc on her face!

The snowman duel!!

The finished cookies.

Sammie

Blaire and Eryn

Grant and Lauren

Lauren and I hosted our family for a night of crafts and cookie decorating. The kids had fun but I think the adults enjoyed decorating the cookies more then the kids. Everyone was trying to out do each other. In the end Janine and Brian got into a snowman duel to see who's could look the best. I think they both turned out great.

Church Christmas party

Candy Cane Trees

Marshmallow snowmen

Decorating Cookies

Sing

This week our church had they annual family Christmas party. Lauren was asked to be part of the kids choir which she loved doing. (She loves to be in front of people.) They also had games, crafts, a snow hill, a petting zoo, food, treats and etc. It was a fun evening.